DAVENPORT & Co LLC Grows Stock Holdings in United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI)

DAVENPORT & Co LLC boosted its position in United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI) by 35.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 1,001 shares of the construction company’s stock after acquiring an additional 261 shares during the period. DAVENPORT & Co LLC’s holdings in United Rentals were worth $705,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of URI. ORG Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in United Rentals in the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. purchased a new stake in United Rentals in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Hanson & Doremus Investment Management purchased a new stake in United Rentals in the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. grew its stake in United Rentals by 80.0% in the 3rd quarter. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. now owns 45 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 20 shares during the period. Finally, HM Payson & Co. purchased a new stake in United Rentals in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $41,000. 96.26% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have commented on URI shares. Robert W. Baird raised shares of United Rentals from an “underperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $658.00 target price for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. Baird R W upgraded shares of United Rentals from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Argus lifted their price target on shares of United Rentals from $840.00 to $880.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on shares of United Rentals from $775.00 to $765.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Citigroup decreased their price target on shares of United Rentals from $985.00 to $835.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, United Rentals currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $814.08.

United Rentals Stock Performance

NYSE:URI opened at $740.69 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42. The firm has a market capitalization of $48.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.11, a PEG ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 1.68. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $752.83 and its 200 day simple moving average is $769.57. United Rentals, Inc. has a twelve month low of $596.48 and a twelve month high of $896.98.

United Rentals (NYSE:URI) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The construction company reported $11.59 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $11.65 by ($0.06). United Rentals had a net margin of 16.78% and a return on equity of 34.21%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that United Rentals, Inc. will post 46.09 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Rentals Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 26th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 12th will be paid a dividend of $1.79 per share. This is an increase from United Rentals’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.63. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 12th. This represents a $7.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.97%. United Rentals’s payout ratio is 18.48%.

About United Rentals

United Rentals, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates as an equipment rental company. It operates in two segments, General Rentals and Specialty. The General Rentals segment rents general construction and industrial equipment includes backhoes, skid-steer loaders, forklifts, earthmoving equipment, and material handling equipment; aerial work platforms, such as boom and scissor lifts; and general tools and light equipment comprising pressure washers, water pumps, and power tools for construction and industrial companies, manufacturers, utilities, municipalities, homeowners, and government entities.